BUDDHIST SPRITUAL JOURNEY

Duration:- 13 Nights/14 Days

Destination Covered: - Delhi -Dharamshala-Varanasi -Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Vaishali-Kushinagar-Lumbini –Kapilvastu- Sravasti - Lucknow -Delhi.

Day 01

On arrival at Delhi, our representative will assist you on arrival, transfer to hotel. Stay overnight stay at hotel in Delhi.

Day 02:- Delhi - Dharamshala (585 kms. / 8 hrs.)

After early breakfast, today we will drive to Dharamshala. Dharamshala has everything for a perfect holiday. It is full of life and yet peaceful. Covering a wide area in the form of twin settlement, Lower Dharamshala (1380m) is a busy commercial centre. While upper Dharamshala (1830m) with the suburbs of Mcleodganj and Forsytheganj, retains a British flavor and colonial lifestyle. On arrive Check in hotel. Stay overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 03:- Dharamshala

After breakfast, move out for local sightseeing. Mcleodganj is a famous little town of Dharamshala also known as Little Tibet. H. H. The Dalai Lama resides here. At the start of Mcleodganj is a small bazaar filled with variety of Tibetan handicrafts and artifacts. At the end of the spur lies the Namgyal Monastery. The external wall is surrounded by rows of prayer wheels. Within the monastery are large idols of Buddha. A valokteshwara and Padamsambhava and walls lined with Thankas. The charming church of St. John in the wilderness is situated here and this is the final resting place of Lord Elgin, a British Viceroy of India during the 19th century. Day at leisure, stay Overnight at Hotel.

Day 04:- Dharamshala – Delhi

After breakfast check-out from hotel and proceed to Delhi, on arrive check in the hotel, overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05:- Delhi - Varanasi (By Air / 1:35 hrs)

After breakfast drop Delhi domestic airport to take a flight to Varanasi, on arrival transfer to hotel, At dawn enjoy boat ride at River Ganges, Ganga Arti, followed by a city tour covering - Vishwanath Temple, Bharat Mata Temple, Laxminarayan Temple etc. Stay overnight at Varanasi

Day 06:- Varanasi-Sarnath – Bodhgaya (270km./ 6 hrs)

After breakfast go to Sarnath: famous for its Dhamekh Stupa and for it being the place where Buddha preached his first sermon enshrining the principle of his teachings into laws. Afternoon will start to Bodhgaya arrive Bodhgaya, overnight in Bodhgaya.

Day 07:– Bodhgaya – Rajgir – Nalanda - Bodhgaya (96km each side/2hrs)

In Bodhgaya for two nights with excursions to Rajgir/ Nalanda / Sapta pari cave and Venevamas. Above two days you will come across with many locales of Buddhist significance, i.e., Rajgir: an important Buddhist pilgrimage since the Buddha spent 12 years here, and the first Buddhist council after the Buddha attained Nirvana was held here, Nalanda: founded in the 5th century known as center of intellectualism. Stay overnight at Bodhgaya.

Day 08: - Bodhgaya -Vaishali (250 km/6 hrs)

After breakfast go to Vaishali, a very special place to Buddhists as The Lord delivered his last sermon & announced his impending “Nirvanas". See the majesty of Ashok Pillar -Lotus tank, Chaumukhi, overnight at Vaishali.

Day 09: - Vaishali- Kushinagar (230 km/6 hrs)

Morning we will start to Kushinagar, arrive and visit Mahanirvana Temple, the modern Japan/Srilanka Buddhist center & monasteries. Stay overnight at Kushinagar.

Day 10: - Kushinagar-Lumbini (175 km/6 hrs)

Morning visit to Ashoka's pillar (249 BC) rediscovered in 1890's inside thick Sal forest, a temple of Mayadevi, the ruins of an old monastery and some new stupas, overnight at Lumbini.

Day 11:- Lumbini - Kapilvastu - Sravsati - Balrampur

This eventful day of Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour will begin with a visit to the renowned Ashoka’s pillar constructed in 249BC followed by a visit to a temple of Mayadevi. Also visit some ruins of an old monastery and some of the new stupas and thereafter depart for Balrampur in the afternoon. On the way guests will also pay a visit to Sravsati to view the ruins of Jetavana Monastery. At Balrampur guests will be accommodated in a hotel for overnight stay.

Day 12:- Balrampur- Lucknow

This morning at Balrampur will commence with a refreshing meal which will be followed by a city tour. Thereafter guests will drive to Lucknow late in the afternoon where they will be accommodated in a hotel for overnight stay.

Day 13:- Lucknow- Delhi

At Lucknow the day will be devoted to a visit to the famous Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites in the region. This tour will first begin with Imambara and followed by a visit to Rumi Darwaza. Thereafter guests will be transferred to the Airport again where they will board the flight to Delhi. At Delhi guests will be again escorted to a hotel for overnight stay.

Day 14:- Delhi- Departure

The final day of Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour at Delhi will be spent at leisure. Guests will be transferred to the airport in the evening, for their comfortable journey ahead.